The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-06-24

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MARCH1oNEss AND MARQUIS OF LoRNE.
Crimea, where they were Joined by the Turks,
and the tedious siege Of Sebastopol began.
The battles of Balaklava and Inkermann and
the wonderful "charge of the Light Brigade"
were incidents of this war. The sufferings Of
the British troops and the general inefficiency
OF the commissary department showed that the
sinews of British war administration had been
relaxed by the long peace since Waterloo
called peace because they had no wars with
other than half civilized peoples. In this war
Florence Nightingale began the system of
nurse and sanitary organization which is
such pleasing feature of recent wars. Peace
was made by the treaty of Paris March 80,
1856; but all the settlements made in it have
been unsettled by subsequent events.
In 1857 the Sepoys. native troops in the
British service, rebelled in India and massa-
cred many hundred English, including women
and children. They were subdued and pun
lshed with extreme severity. In 1856 began
another war with China; the French and
British fleets bombarded Canton; the Chinese
made trade concessions to both nations and
have since maintained ministers at the courts
Of other countries. In 1853 Japan granted
the rights Of trade in her port to Great
Britain, and after that to other ma
tions. In 1861 the American civil
war began, and the failure of the cotton sup
ply brought misery to nearly million Brit
ish laborers; but after the terrible winter Of
1864 partial supplies came from India and
elsewhere. The British authorities allowed
vessels to be built in their ports for the south
ern Confederacy, which became privateers,
destroying American merchant vessels. For
eight years the two nations were hostile in
feeling. but in 1871 the matters were ar.
ranged by treaty, and court Of arbitration
at Geneva, early in 1872, decided that Eng
land should pay the United States S15. 100000
damages. The dispute about the island of
San Juan, msthe chanisa between Vancou-
ver's island and Oregon, was referred to the
Emperor Of Germany, who decided that it
belonged to the United States, whereupon
the British evacuated it. In the early part of
1851 the queens mother, the Duchess Of Kent,
died, and on Dec. 16 that year she lost her
husband
The American war was soon followed by
the Fenian troubles in Ireland, largely ex-
cited by Irish-Americans, veterans of our
war, and these continued at short intervals
for several years. In 1870 the Protestant
church establishment in Ireland was
abolished, chiefly by the exertions of Mr..
Gladstone, and since Jan. I, 1871, the tithes
for that church have not been collected In
1S7O-1, also, the elementary education acts
were put in force in England and Wales, by
which parents are compelled to school their
children between and 10 years Of age In
1879 voting by ballot was established In
1874 Mr.. Gladstone and the Wings went out Of
power and Mr.. Disraeli became prime minister,
with Tory or Conservative government,
and soon after began the heated struggle over
Irish affairs, which is just now in its most ex-
citing stage. Meanwhile, in 1868, had &C.
Cured the war with Abyssinia, in which Sir
Robert Napier, with 10000 men, captured
King Theodore's capital, the king committing
suicide. And now England became still fur
Their complicated with the affairs of Egypt
and the east. On May I, 1876, at the in
stance of the premier, Queen Victoria was
proclaimed empress Of India, and OH Aug IS
Mr.. Disraeli was raised to the peerage for his
services, becoming Lord Beaconstield Sir
Stafford Northcote succeeded him as leader
If the house of commons.
All this time the eastern question" so
,alled, continued to agitate Europe and en-
oarrass the rulers of England; Lord Sails
bury and Sir Henry Elliot represented Eng
and at conference held with other great
powers at Constantinople, but nothing was
ettled In 1886 there was war between
Turkey and some of her rebellious Christian
ubjects, led by Servia, and on April "a, 1877,
Russia once more declared war against
Turkey. After some preliminary defeats the
Russians swept all before them, and their
lrmies were almost within sight of Constan-
inople when England interposed Bismarck
invited the great powers to conference,
which met at Berlin. Lord Beaconsfield re-
England, and adopted the treaty
# Berlin June Is. 1873.
By this treaty the Christian subjects of tho
ultan were secured a degree of self govern
nent; but other troubles have followed as
hese diverse Christian races agree in moth
ng but dread and hatred of the Turks. The
'lav and the Greek, the Serb and the Bull
arian, the Roumanian and Montenegran
istrust and despise each other while all of
hem persecute the Israelite. So the in
rigues of Russia and the uneasiness of Eng
and continue, and the year 1887 brings US
ion, the morning paper confidently predict
ng war when the evening paper had given
heerful assurance of peace. In 1879 occurred
be Zulu war, in South Africa, made notable
y the death of the Prince Imperial, only son
I Napoleon III and Eugene, who volunteered
4 a quarrel not his own, and died in the
esert by the spear of q barbarian. His
ather, captured by the Prussians in 1870,
led in exile at Chiselhunt, England, in Janu-
ry, 1878; and Eugene, for twenty years en-
ress and leader of fashion for the civilized
1orld, is now passing an old age in obscurity,
childless widow.
In Ireland, also, there is renewed trouble.
he tenants have formed a league and COM
ined to fight for lower rents, and after
ssuming protean phases, the contest is just
ow threatening to become civil war. The
cries now in power in the British parliament
ropose system Of severe coercion, which is
sisted by Gladstone and the Liberals; and
he contest is shaking the kingdom. In all
Their parts the empire is at peace, and the
viva1 of trade gives promise Of general con.